This is an analysis of the poem Matsushima that begins with:

O paradise of waters and of isles that gleam,
Dark pines on scarps that flame white in a mirrored sky,... full text

Elements of the verse: questions and answers

The information we provided is prepared by means of a special computer program. Use the criteria sheet to understand greatest poems or improve your poetry analysis essay.

  • Rhyme scheme: ababcdcdefefbgbg
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 16,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: shakespearean sonnet
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 110101010111 111111100101 010111100101 010110100111 10010100100101 110101011100 1100111011101 100101110101 011101010101 001111010001 010101000101 1001101101101 010111110101 01010111010010 010011010101 110101010101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 806
  • Average number of words per stanza: 146
  • Amount of lines: 16
  • Average number of symbols per line: 49 (strings are more long than medium ones)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; that, with, of, paradise are repeated.

If you write a school or university poetry essay, you should Include in your explanation of the poem:

  • summary of Matsushima;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Robert Laurence Binyon